Merchandise-display rack.



R. D. GREGG. MERCHANDISE DISPLAY RACK. APPLICATION FILED APB.23. 1909.

"TED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

ROY D. CREGO, OF IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ISAAC UNGER, OF IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN.

MERCHANDISE-DISPLAY RACK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R01 D. Unnco, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iron Mountain, in the county of Dickinson and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Merchandise-Display Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a merchandise display-rack, or machine, adapted for the display of rolls or spools of ribbon, or other articles of merchandise.

My primary object is to provide a rack of the character indicated which is simple of construction, which may be cheaply manufactured, and which is Well adapted to the purpose of displaying spools of ribbon of varying sizes and rendering the same convenient of access.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a front elevational View of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, one of the shaft-bearings of the machine being shown in section; Fig. 2, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken perspective View illustrating the manner in which the individual holders, or carrier-elements, are rendered adjustable to accommodate spools of varying sizes and are connected with the carrier-frame of the machine in a manner to permit the carrier-elements to depend vertically from their supports at all times during the operation of the carrier-frame; Fi 4;, a broken sectional View illustrating a modified form of carrier-element and the manner of connecting the same with the carrierframe; and Fi 5, a broken elevational View, partly in section, showing another modification providing for the longitudinal extension of the main frame and the carrier-elements.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, A represents a main frame comprising end-standards A and bolts, or rods, A connecting the base portions of said end-standards; B, a rotary carrier-frame comprising wheels 13 fixedly connected by a shaft B whose ends are journaled in the upper portions of the standards A and C, carrier'elements suspended between the arms of the wheels B in such manner as to maintain a depending Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 23, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 491,863.

upright position during the rotation of the carrier-frame.

The main frame A may be of any suitable construction, but a simple construction of the character illustrated is preferred.

The construction of the rotary carrier B may be varied, but it is preferred to employ end-frames of wheel-form whose hub-pol tions are rigidly connected together by the shaft 15, the extremities of the shaft B being received .in slots 1 which aitford hearings in the upper ends of the stamlards A llach carrier-element C preliirably comprises a pair of parallel rods 2 extending longitudinally of the machine and rigidly secured at their extremities to links or flatmetal arms 3; a bolt t and nut 5 connecting the upper ends of each pair of arms 3 and adapted to adjustably secure the members of each pair of arms in fixed angular relation and thereby space the members of each pair of rods 2 apart according to desire; and links 6 connected with the upper end of each pair of arms and provided with a hook-form upper end 7; and a bolt, or pivot, 8 adapted to enter a horizontal perforation 9 in the wheel-rim and atlord a pivotal support for the hook 7. The upper ends of the arms 3 are provided with perforations, and the lower ends of the links 7 are provided with perforations adapted to receive bolts t. It will be understood, therefore, that the members of each pair of rods may be spaced a desired distance apart, according to the diameters of the spools of ribbon which are to be supported on the rods.

In Fig. 2, 10 indicates, in dotted lines, a spool of ribbon supported on the rods 2 of one of the carriers 0. The rods 2 may be connected with the arms 3 in any desired manner. The preferred manner is to reduce the extremities of the rods, thread the same and pass them through perforations in the lower ends of the arms 3 and secure them by means of nuts 11.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, C represents a carrier-element comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed rods 12 and 1.3 whose extremities are bent at right angles to provide arms 14. The ends of said arms are equipped with eyes 15. The eyes 15 are received on the threaded portion of the bolt 16, being confined thereon between the collar 17 and nut 18. The bolt 16 has a headless shank 19 which is received by a perforation in the Wheel-rim B The arms 14 may be secured at any desired angular relation, so that the longitudinal rods 12, 13 Will be separated by a space sufiicient to accommodate a spool, the space being adjustable.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, provision for longitudinal adjustment of the display-rack is shown. In this modification, end-standards are connected by telescopic rods 20, and the holder-elements C are formed With telescopic rods 21.. In like manner, a telescopic axle may be employed in lieu of the axle B The telescopic members of each rod 20 are secured in the adjusted relation by a set-screw 22.

The manner of use of the display-rack will be readily understood. The rack may be placed conveniently Within a show-case, on top of a show-case, or in a display Win- ClOW. Assuming the members of the holderelements C to be preparatorily adjusted, so that the longitudinal rods 2 of each l1olderelement will beseparated by a space suited to the diameter of the spools of ribbon to be supported thereon, the carrier-frame B may be rotated to facilitate the operation of placing the spools in the holders, the holders remaining suspended beneath their pivotal supports carried by the Wheels of the carrier-frame during the rotation of the carrier-frame. lVhen desired, the carrierframe may be rotated to bring the holderelements successively to the front of the machine, thereby displaying the ribbons. The rotatability of the carrier-frame also facilitates the removal of any desired spool of ribbon, or article being displayed. For instance, When the rack is contained in a showcase, the carrier-frame may be rotated to bring any desired holder-element to the rear portion of the show-case to enable the articles to be removed.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation should be understood therefrom.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a display-rack, the combination of a rotary carrier having a horizontal axis, and carrier-elements suspended thereon and adapted to maintain an upright position during rotation of said carrier, each carrier-element comprising longitudinal members adjustable toward and aWay from each other.

2. In a display-rack, the combination of a rotary carrier having a substantially horizontal axis, and carrier-elements suspended thereon and adapted to maintain a vertical position during the rotation of the carrier, each carrier-element comprising a pair of rods, a pair of flat-metal arms secured to the extremities of each rod, means adjustably securing said arms at their upper ends, and suspending means connected With the upper ends of said arms.

3. In a display-rack, the combination of a rotary carrier-frame having rigidly connected end-frames, and carrier-elements mounted thereon, each carrier-element comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed members equipped at their extremities With arms, a bolt connecting the extremities of each pair of arms, a link connected With said bolt, and studs carried by said end-frames and pivotally connected With said links.

R. T. MILLER, Rosa D. RAYoME. 

